Smoke washer



F. DE BELLIS July l2, 1966 SMOKE WASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 5,1964 July 12, 1966 F. DE BELLIS 3,260,036

SMOKE WASHER Filed March 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fran/r De Bel/is 1NVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,260,036 SMOKE WASHER Frank De Bellis, 300Harrison St., Gary, Ind. Filed Mar. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 349,641 Claims.(Cl. 55-223) The present invention generally relates to a device forcleaning or Washing smoke Iand then discharging the cleaned smoke from achimney or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a smoke washer adaptedfor use in conjunction with various industrial plants or wherever smokeis produced as a result of combusti-on. The smoke washer of the presentinvention incorporates a washing chamber through which the smokeinitially passes and in which Water passes through the smoke forentraining solid particles, fly ash, unburned particles and the like andIthe hot smoke will turn at least part of the water into s-team therebylfurther serving to separate the dirt from the smoke so that it will becollected in the bottom of the washing chamber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a smoke washer inwhichthe smoke is conveyed Vthrough the washing apparatus by employing afan device which has a discharge pipe communicating with a chimney orother discharge conduit.

Yet another object of the present invention is 4to provide a smokewashel incorporating two chambers therein with the iirst chamber havinga water spray therein and a second chamber bein-g in the form of aseparation chamber communicated with a ian. The bottom of the chambersare slanted so tha-t dripping water will drain from the bott-om of thesmoke washer.

Another 4object of the present invention is to provide a smoke washerhaving safety `features therein to enable the device to be used whendesired and taken out of service for repair or maintenance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a smoke washerwhich is simple in construction, easy to install, well adapted for itsparticular purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture andoperate.

'I'hese together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in vthe details of construction andoper-ation as more fully hereinafter de scribed and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the smoke washer of the prese-ntinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the construction of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the smoke washer illustratingthe structural details of the components of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the smoke washer of thepresent invention includes an enlarged housing or casing 12 of generallysquare or similar contiguration and which includes a top wall 14 and aninclined bottom wall 16 which is inclined slightly and continuouslythroughout the length of the housing 12. One end of the housing 12 isprovided with an inlet pipe, stack or conduit 18 by which waste gases,smoke and the like .are discharged into the interior of the housing 12by a downturned discharge end 20 on the inlet pipe 18 whereby the smokewill be discharged downwardly toward the inclined bottom 1-6.

4Spaced between the end walls of the housing 12 is an opstandingpartition wall 22 generally paralleling the end walls of the housing 12and extending to a vertical height above the disch-arge end of the inletpipe 18. 'I`he opposite end wall of :the housing 12 is provided with anupwardly inclined outlet pipe 24 communicated there- ICC with generallyabove the point of discharge of the inlet pipe 18 and generally inalignment with the top edge of the partition 22. As illustrated inFIGURE 3, the partition 22 is nearer the discharge pipe 24 than it isthe end wall having the inlet pipe 18 therein and the upward inclinationof the disch-arge pipe 24 will assure that any moisture deposited on theinner surface of the wall will drain back into the housing 12.

Disposed immediately below the top wall 14 is a pair of manifold pipes26 each having a plurality of Water discharge nozzles 28 attachedthereto and extending downwardly therefrom. The manifold pipes 26 areinterconnected by a connecting pipe 30 having a T-ii-tting 32 in thecenter thereof which is communicated with an upwardly extending supplypipe 34 extending up through the top 14 and provided with a manu-alcontrol valve 36 therein for controlling discharge of water as a waterspr-ay into the smoke discharged from the discharge end 20 of the inletpipe 18.

The water spray discharged from the nozzles 28 will pass through thesmoke thus eifectively washing the smoke and will then be deposited onthe upper surface of the bottom 16. The lower edge of the partition 22is provided with an aperture or apertures 38 for communicating the twochambers or compartmentsformed in the housing 12 so that the watercollected in the bottom of the housing 12 may be discharged through ladischarge pipe 40 -at the lowermost cor-ner thereof. The discharge pipe40 is provided with an inverted U-shaped trap member 42 which servesonly to retain the water 44 at a predetermined level in the housing 12.At least, the level will reach a predetermined position before it isdischarged over the trap member 42 wherein the trap member 42 will thenpermit discharge of water thereover into a waste pipe 46 extending to asuitable collection tank, sewer or the like depending upon the nature ofthe discharged water since there is a possibility that the dischargedwater will be recirculated after cleaning.

Each of the compartments in the housing 12 is provided with an enlargedinspection or access opening 48 adjacent the bottom thereof which isclosed by an inspection plate or cover 50 secured in place by aplurality of suitable fasteners 52 and a suitable seal ring or the like.There -is also provided an inspection hole 54 adjacent the upper cornerof the housing 12 with there also being a cover 56 thereon secured inplace detachably by fasj housing 60 having a fan 62 rotatably mountedtherein. I

The bottom of the housing is provided with a drain pipe 64 communicatedwith the waste pipe 46 for draining any water that may be deposited inthe housing 60. The fan 62 is provided with a drive shaft 66 drivinglyconnected to an electric motor 68 that is supported on a supportingplate 70 carried by a stand frame 72 having a plurality of dependingangle iron legs 74 provided thereon for supporting the electric motor 68in position for driving the \fan 62. The fan 62 is preferably of thesquirrel-cage type although the axial flow type may be employed. Thesquirrel-cagetype provides a centrifugal action to the air for servingas a further separation of any moisture entrained in the air so thatit'can be drained through the discharge pipe 64. The cleaned smoke movedby the fan `is dis-charged through an outlet pipe 76 communicated with asmoke stack or chimney 78 with the discharge pipe 76 being tangential tohousing 60 and` curved in any suitable manner to. connect with thechimney or exhaust stack 78.

In the discharge pipe or conduit 76, there is provided a manual damperor buttery valve 80 which closes off the smoke washer from the stack orchimney 78. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the stack or chimney 78 is alsoin communication with a pipe or conductor 82 which may be of equal sizeto the stack or chimney or may be smaller or larger and this conduit 82communicates with the source of smoke so that the smoke may either passthrough the smoke washer or pass directly into the chimney by passingthrough the conduit 82 in which event the damper 80 would be closed.

The water nozzles may be of any suitable type but it is desirable thatthe pattern of water discharged therefrom cover substantially the entirecross-sectional area of the washing compartment of the housing 12.Suitable valving may be provided wherever desired such as in the watersupply pipe and also in the water drain pipes 40 or 46 and also thewater drain pipe 64- if desired. The electric motor 68 may be ofvariable speed so that the speed of the fan can be adjusted as desired.The closure plates or doors 50 and 56 may be provided with handles tofacilitate handling thereof and reproof gaskets may be employed. Whenthe smoke is discharged into the spray olf water,-the temperature of thesmoke will be materially decreased thus serving lto precipitate unburnedgases and also remove carbon particles, y ash and the like from thesmoke. Also, the moisture or water is at least partially converted tosteam which, when cooled with further contact with water spray or due topassage around `the partition will serve to further precipitate dirt outof the smoke thus enabling cleaner smoke to be discharged. The devicemay be constructed of any suitable material and may be of any suitablesize depending upon the volume of smoke passing therethrough.

The foregoing is considered as `illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous moditication and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention lto the exact construction and operation .shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A smoke washing apparatus comprising a hollow housing dened by-aperipheral wall, a top and a bottom, said bottom being inclined to 'forma low point therein, drain means communicated with the low point of thebottom for drainage of water therefrom, a smoke in- `let conduitcommunicating with one side of said housing, a cleaned smoke outletconduit communicated with said housing at `an opposite side thereof inrelation to the inlet conduit, an upwardly extending partition disposedwithin said housing between the inlet and outlet conduit with thepartition being connected to the bottom and spaced below `the top of thehousing, a plurality o-f water spray nozzles disposed above the smokelinlet conduit whereby incoming smoke will be intermingled with waterdischarged from the spray nozzles, fan means lcommunicated with theoutlet conduit for discharging the clean smoke into a discharge stack,said partition having opening means in the lower edge thereof forenabling passage of water -along the inclined bottom, y'said fan meansincluding a centrifugal type `of rfan including a fan housingcommunicated with the outlet conduit and a discharge pipe communicatingwith the discharge stack, drain means vin the lower portion of the fanhousing, said fan housing including a tangential discharge pipecornmunicated therewith and also communicating with a discharge stack,Va damper mounted in the discharge pipe, and a by-pass pipe from thesource of smoke communicated with the discharge stack and by-passing thesmoke washer when the smoke washer is not in service.

2. A smoke washing apparatus comprising an enlarged hollow housing denedby a peripheral wall, a top and a bottom, a smoke inlet conduitcommunicated with said housing, a smoke outlet conduit communicated withsaid housing in opposite relation to the smoke inlet conduit,

an upright partition disposed in said housing between the smoke inletconduit and outlet conduit with the partition being connected to theIbottom and spaced from the top of the housing for dividing the housinglinto two chambers, a plurality of spray nozzles disposed adjacent thetop of the housing lin overlying relation to the chamber of the housingwith which the smoke inlet conduit is communicated whereby incomingsmoke will be intermingled with Water discharged from the spray nozzles,fan means communicated with the'outlet conduit and discharging into adischarge stack, and drain means communicated with the bottom of thehousing for discharging dirty water after it has washed the smoke, the:bottom of said housing lbeing inclined from the inlet portion thereofto the outlet portion with the drain means being communicated with thelowermost point on the housing for drainage of waterv from the bottom,said partition having opening means where it joins with the bottom sothat water from both chambers may be discharged from the drain means,said drain means including an inverted U-shaped pipe member `installedin a drain pipe for assuring a predetermined level of water in thebottom of the housing, saidV inlet conduit including a downturneddischarge end orientated within the chamber having the water nozzleslocated therein whereby the smoke will be discharged toward the bottomof the housing, said outlet conduit being inclined upwardly andoutwardly whereby any condensate on :the walls of the outlet oonduitwill drain back into the housing, said housing being provided with aplurality of inspection openings, covers mounted on said openings forenabling access therethrough thereby enabling the housing to be cleanedout when desired.

3. The structure as detined in claim Z wherein said partition extendsabove the discharge end of the smoke inlet conduit for providing atortuous path for the smoke passing through the smoke washer.

4. The structure as dened in claim 3 wherein said fan means includes acentrifugal .type fan for further extracting water from the cleanedsmoke, a fan housing communicated with the outlet conduit, `a drain pipeeX- tending from the bottom of the fan housing to the drain means forthe housing, and a` variable speed electric motor forkdriving the fan ata speed to induce ow through the housing at a volume capable of beingthoroughly cleaned by the smoke washer.

5. A smoke washing apparatus comprising an enlarged hollow housingdefined by a peripheral wall, a top and a bottom, a smoke inlet conduitcommunicated with said housing, a smoke outlet -conduitcommunicated withsaid housing in opposite relation to the smoke inlet conduit, an uprightpartition disposed in said housing between the smoke inlet conduit andoutlet conduit with the partition being connected to the bottom andspaced from the top of the housing for dividing the housing into twochambers, a plurality of spray nozzles disposed adjacent the top of thehousing in overlying relation to the chamber of the housing with whichthe smoke inlet conduit is communicated whereby incoming smoke will beintermingled with water discharged from the spray nozzles, fan meanscommunicated with the outlet conduit and discharging into a dischargestack, and drain means communicated with the bottom of the housing fordischarging dirty water after it has washed the smoke, the bottom ofsaid housing being inclined from the inlet portion thereof to the outletportion with the drain means being communicated with the lowermost pointIon the housing for drainage of water from the bottom, said partitionhaving opening means where it joins with the bottom so that water fromboth chambers may |be discharged from the drain means, said drain meansincluding an inverted U-shaped pipe member installed in a drain pipe forassuring a predetermined level of water in the bottom of the housing,said inlet conduit including a downturned discharge end orientatedwithin the chamber having the water nozzles located therein whereby thesmoke will be discharged toward the bottom of the housing, said outletconduit being inclined upwardly and outwardly whereby any condensate onthe walls of the outlet conduit will drain 4back into the housing, saidhousing being provided with a plurality of inspection openings, coversmounted on said openings for enabling access therethrough therebyenabling the housing to be cleaned out when desired, said partitionextending above the discharge end of the smoke inlet conduit forproviding a tortuous path for the smoke passing through the smokewasher, said fan means `including a centrifugal type fan `for furtherextracting water from the cleaned smoke, a fan housing communicated withthe outlet conduit, a drain pipe extending from the bottom of the fanhousing to the drain means for the housing, and a variable speedelectric motor for driving the fan at a speed to induce ow through thehousing at a volume capable of being thoroughly cleaned by the smokeWasher, said fan housing including a tangential discharge pipecommunicated therewith, the other end of the discharge pipecommunicating with the discharge stack, and a buttery type of ReferencesCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 469,271 2/1892 Prochaska55-314 X 585,568 6/1897 Greiwe 55--260 X 889,694 6/1908 Lambert 261-1183,167,413 1/1965 Kiekens et al 55-227 X FOREIGN PATENTS 955,741 12/ 1956Germany.

8/ 1903 Great Britain. 1/1930 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

D. K. DENENBERG, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SMOKE WASHING APPARATUS COMPRISING A HOLLOW HOUSING DEFINED BY APERIPHERAL WALL, A TOP AND A BOTTOM, SAID BOTTOM BEING INCLINED TO FORMA LOW POINT THEREIN, DRAIN MEANS COMMUNICATED WITH THE LOW POINT OF THEBOTTOM FOR DRAINAGE OF WATER THEREFROM, A SMOKE INLET CONDUITCOMMUNICATING WITH ONE SIDE OF SAID HOUSING, A CLEANED SMOKE OUTLETCONDUIT COMMUNICATED WITH SAID HOUSING AT AN OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF INRELATION TO THE INLET CONDUIT, AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING PARTITION DISPOSEDWITHIN SAID HOUSING BETWEEN THE INLET AND OUTLET CONDUIT WITH THEPARTITION BEING CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM AND SPACED BELOW THE TOP OF THEHOUSING, A PLURALITY OF WATER SPRAY NOZZLES DISPOSED ABOVE THE SMOKEINLET CONDUIT WHEREBY INCOMING SMOKE WILL BE INTERMINGLED WITH WATERDISCHARGED FROM THE SPRAY NOZZLES, FAN MEANS COMMUNICATED WITH THEOUTLET CONDUIT FOR DISCHARGING THE CLEAN SMOKE INTO A DISCHARGE STACK,SAID PARTITION HAVING OPENING MEANS IN THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF FORENABLING PASSAGE OF WATER ALONG THE INCLINED BOTTOM, SAID FAN MEANSINCLUDING A CENTRIFUGAL TYPE OF FAN INCLUDING A FAN HOUSING COMMUNICATEDWITH THE OUTLET CONDUIT AND A DISCHARGE PIPE COMMUNICATING WITH THEDISCHARGE STACK, DRAIN MEANS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FAN HOUSING,SAID